Diseases and Conditions

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus

Definition

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder that is brought on by a reaction to a medicine.

Alternative Names

Lupus - drug induced

Causes

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is an autoimmune disorder. This means your body attacks healthy tissue by mistake. It is caused by an overreaction to a medicine.

The most common medicines known to cause drug-induced lupus are:

Isoniazid

Hydralazine

Procainamide

Other less common drugs may also cause the condition. These may include:

Anti-seizure medications

Capoten

Chlorpromazine

Etanercept

Infliximab

Methyldopa

Minocycline

Penicillamine

Quinidine

Sulfasalazine

Symptoms tend to occur after taking the drug for at least 3 to 6 months.

If the condition is affecting your heart, kidney, or nervous system, your doctor may prescribe high doses of corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone) and immune system suppressants (azathioprine or cyclophosphamide). This is rare.

Guard against too much sun exposure when the disease is active by wearing clothing and sunglasses and using sunscreen.

Support Groups

Most of the time, drug-induced lupus erythematosus is as severe as SLE. The symptoms often go away within a few days to weeks after stopping the medicine you were taking.

Avoid taking the drug that caused the reaction in future. Symptoms are likely to return if you do so. Get regular eye exams to detect any complications early.

Possible Complications

Infection

Thrombocytopenia purpura -- bleeding near the skin surface, resulting from a low number of platelets in the blood

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.